Microsoft Steve Balmer gets pumped up about SYNC and his new Ford Fusion Hybrid, courtesy of Ford CEO Alan Mullaly, and in celebration of one million SYNC vehicles produced. (Source: Autoblog)

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer is thrilled to be getting his new Ford Fusion

In the realm of automotive sales, exclusive features often provide an important means of differentiating oneself from the competition. GM has OnStar and Ford has its SYNC functionality, a hot feature which allows for the integration of mobile phones and portable media players with Ford vehicles among other things. The feature was developed by software giant Microsoft in close collaboration with Ford, and is featured in many new Ford models, including the sleek and fuel efficient Ford Fusion hybrid.

The system has been driving sales and has helped Ford likely be the only domestic automaker to avoid bankruptcy and government regulation. As a special thank you to Microsoft, Ford delivered Microsoft CEO and Detroit native Steve Ballmer a pale blue 2010 Ford Fusion hybrid, the millionth vehicle produce with Sync onboard according to Autoblog.

Ford CEO Alan Mulally personally delivered the new car to Mr. Ballmer. His purchase may have been largely a symbolic gesture, but the fun thing is Mr. Ballmer seemed genuinely excited. Of course, this isn't entirely surprising -- the Fusion is a very well-designed vehicle, rated an impressive 41 mpg, with many users report much higher mileages thanks to the car's aggressive fuel-saving strategies. Mr. Mulally pledged to "continue to innovate and expand the capability of SYNC by integrating even more new technologies that fit our customers' lifestyles."

Currently SYNC offers navigation and entertainment systems, and a feature called 911 Assist, which calls emergency services in the event of an accident (similar to GM's OnStar).

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Thanks again Jason...Hate to reply to my own post, but it looks like Jason got us again with an inaccurate story.

quote: As a special thank you to Microsoft, Ford is giving Microsoft CEO and Detroit native Steve Ballmer a pale blue 2010 Ford Fusion hybrid

Ford didn't "give" it to him, Mullaly "delivered" it to him. Balmer coughed up the cash for the car and the Ford CEO was kind enough to drop it off. Had Jason read the whole article he referred to, he would have seen under the "Press Release" the following

Ford has been making pretty good cars since they got rid of Nasser. He destroyed the Taurus in 1995 and pretty much drove the company into the ground. They also lost marketshare superiority to GM during his reign.

But you have to consider Fords' success is also due to cross platforming (which they've been doing with Mazda since the 80's) and desegmenting markets (it's taken over 10 years to accomplish, but next year, the World Edition Focus will finally put us on-par with the European arm of Ford)

If you want to say "Big 6" thats fine, but Ford is significantly bigger than everybody else below them.